Talia Marshall's debut book Whaea Blue (2024) is a force of nature. Abandoning neutral expressions of praise, New Zealand's reviewers have spoken of it in tones of dazed warning: the book is 'stunning', 'haunted', and 'alarming in its honesty'. But while it has its wild moments, it also has notes of humour and gentleness, 'whaea' means mother or aunty...